automotive aftermarket parts / Buying guide
Shipping costs for parts orders
Most goods imported from China bill on volumetric weight, because they are bulkier than they are heavy. Auto parts are the exception: metal components are dense enough that actual weight is almost always the higher number, which makes the freight estimate unusually predictable.
It also means sea freight becomes worth it much sooner here than it does for consumer goods.
In this guide
Route economics for dense cargo
- Under about 30 kg: express air, 3–7 days. Simple, no broker needed, high per-kilo.
- 30–100 kg: consolidated air freight, 7–14 days, cheaper per kilo, needs clearance handling.
- Above roughly 100 kg: sea LCL becomes clearly cheaper, 25–45 days plus inland.
- A pallet or more of metal parts: sea, without much argument.
The exceptions that bill on volume
Body panels, bumpers, light housings, air filters, plastic trim and anything that is mostly shaped air. These behave like consumer goods and can cost more to ship than to buy.
Mixing dense and bulky parts in one shipment averages the problem out, which is a reason to consolidate rather than ship by category.
Restricted parts
- Batteries and anything containing one — restricted on most economy air routes, surcharged where permitted.
- Airbags and seatbelt pretensioners — pyrotechnic devices, heavily restricted, often prohibited outright by consolidators.
- Oil-filled shock absorbers and anything pressurised — route-dependent and frequently refused.
- Brake fluid, coolant, aerosols and adhesives — dangerous goods with their own paperwork.
- Anything carrying a vehicle manufacturer's trademark — a customs seizure risk regardless of route.
Customs
Duty is assessed on the part's classification in your country. Classification follows what the part is, so describing it accurately on the invoice is not optional and under-declaring value is fraud that lands on the importer.
Some markets require homologation or type-approval marks before a safety-critical part can be legally sold or fitted. That is a market-access question, not a customs one, and it needs answering before the order rather than after.
Questions & answers
Common questions
- When does sea freight become worth it?
- For dense parts, somewhere around 100 kg, though it depends on the lane. The calculator on this site prices both so you can see the crossover for your actual order.
- Can I ship brake fluid or oil with the parts?
- Not in the same consignment on most routes. Liquids are dangerous goods and need their own booking and paperwork.
- Is DDP worth paying for?
- For a first order, usually — the shipper handles clearance and duty and quotes you one number. Once you have a broker and know your classifications, handling it yourself is cheaper.
Your next step
Have a link you want checked?
Send a 1688 or Taobao product link and you get back the specification in English, the supplier check, and the landed cost to your country before you commit to anything.
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